Boats, Beaches, and Sun

You better like organized tours if you are going to read this. The tour company picked us up at 7AM to join a boat of tourists for a day trip in the Ang Thong National Marine Park close to popular Thailand island destinations like Koh Phangnan, Ko Samui, and others.

Kayaking near bottle beach

We knew we were tourists when the company stuck colored stickers on our shirts indicating whether we would kayak or just snorkel. We boarded a speedboat and the smart families took the inside while the younger ones like us chose the front. The speedboat was super fast like advertised but the ride was ultra bumpy. Best avoided if you get seasick easily or are not a morning person. I am neither.

We joined a group of dutch girls, and two different couples of Americans and Brits. Over the course of the day we all bonded over sunburns and the beautiful scenery. Our first stop was in the middle of the ocean. We stopped and jumped into the warm Gulf of Thailand waters watching and feeling herds of striped tropical fish occasionally brush against our ankles.

After some snorkeling and more burning under the hot sun we arrived at the first island. My friend and I hiked up the well built path complete with staircases to a lookout point.

The view from one side

The view on the other side

By the time we made it back down to the beach a lunch full of thai curries and seafood awaited. Kidding, we actually waited a good thirty minutes longer for the food. The British couple were absolutely hilarious. The husband told stories of stabbings and being run over by trucks multiple times. He was the kind of guy who could make a story about watching paint dry sound interesting so when he told these stories t we all watched, fascinated with his tales of stupidity.

“When I was seven years old my Dad gave me some money go buy a ice cream for me and my two other brothers at a corner store. I took the money and picked out the biggest popsicles I could find. Once I saw them I completely forgot about my brothers and bought the three for myself. I was happy as could be walking down the street with three open popsicles while chomping away. I was so distracted that I practically walked down the middle of the road when a van smacked my small body and I flew in the air making a complete flip. I was so worried about my popsicles that I tried to save them as I was free-falling back to the concrete. I went into a coma for a few days but when I did eventually wake up the first thing I asked the nurses was, what happened to my popsicles!

My buddy napping after lunch

His stories distracted us we heard a small argument grow louder. A blond woman with her 4 children beside her was explaining to a tour guide that they left her and her family at the last island. The boat left without them! They rode on another company’s boat to catch up with their tour group but were rightfully upset. All I could think of was the movie Open Water where a couple is stranded in the ocean after their scuba diving group left without them.

Sure enough we ate a curry with lots of side dishes. The curry, like most in Thailand, was to spicy to enjoy.

Eatin lunch on the beach